The New Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X Headphones

Am I the only reviewer of the new Jaybird X2 headphones who doesn’t have amnesia? All other reviewers who compare Jaybird X2 Bluetooth headphones vs Jaybird X seem to have completely forgotten what the Jaybird X headphones were like!

Jaybird X and Jaybird X2 are basically the same headphones – apart from a couple of cosmetic changes that are hardly worth talking about and are definitely not worth paying a higher price for. Yet the new Jaybird X2 have been launched as a massive upgrade – and some reviewers of Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X seem to be trying to believe it. I do NOT buy the hype, so here is my comparison of the “new” Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X.

Can you spot the difference between the New Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X Headphones? The X2 are on the left. It’s not in the picture, but the Jaybird X headphones have a very similar case. The X2 come in various colors, while the X only come in black or white.

It’s like the old story of the Emperor’s New Clothes. In that story, two weavers promise to make an emperor a wonderful new suit. But they warn that the new suit will be so wonderful that it will be invisible to stupid people. The next thing, the emperor is parading around naked, thinking he is too stupid to see his own wonderful new clothes – and all the people watching him think the same, so they pretend to admire his wonderful new suit. No one wants to admit they cannot see the suit!

It seems to be the same with the new Jaybird X2 headphones. Everyone is pretending to believe that these really are a fantastic upgrade, when they are actually just the same old headphones, with minor cosmetic differences – and – wow! – a new case that looks a bit more expensive!

In fact, take a good look at this table that compares the technical specs of the new Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X headphones. See if you can find any differences!

The launch of the new Jaybird X2 earbuds appears to be just a clever marketing attempt to convince people to pay more money for exactly the same headphones!

It’s amazing to me that so many people are buying into it, and buying the “new” headphones. If I was in the market for a pair of Jaybirds right now, I would take advantage of the hype by buying the original Jaybird X for a much lower price – they are deeply discounted now, cheaper than they have ever been (see prices below) – presumably to sell off the old stocks before more people have a chance to notice that the old Jaybird X and the new Jaybird X2 are pretty much the same product.

All of this reminds me of what Time magazine had to say when it published an article on the 18 Best Headphones:

Full-time rapper and part-time headphone brand Dr. Dre likes to say that “people aren’t hearing all the music.” A more accurate assessment: people aren’t buying the right headphones. Today, the audio industry is saturated with marketing. Clueless consumers snap up name-brands at $300+ price points while merrily scrolling past better, cheaper pairs. The problem? We’re conditioned to shop by brand, rather than by true audio experience.

“Changing the game is about challenging everything we know and accept about the products we design. Jaybird X2 rewrites the rules of Bluetooth, delivering a sound you’ve never heard before in a super-small package with incredible battery life.”

Where to start with that claim? Well, first of all, the sound.

Sound comparison of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

I cannot hear any difference in the sound at all. Some other reviewers agree with me, while some others claim to hear improved sound. For me, the sound is the same as before – pretty good, reasonable bass for such small headphones, very well-balanced sound, with very good clarity. Comparable with wired headphones, for sure. But is the sound vastly improved in the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X? Absolutely not! In fact, I would bet that most people could not tell the difference.

Both versions are sound-isolating in-ear headphones – which means that it all comes down to the fit. If your set of Jays fits well, you will get pretty awesome, sound-isolating, immersive sound that can help you ignore the world around you while you enjoy your own world of sound. But if you don’t get a tight seal, you will lose a lot of bass, and the headphones will not be very impressive.

The Jaybird website says about the Jaybird X2 codec:

“SHIFT™ – Through perfecting a custom implementation of the native Bluetooth SBC codec, which we call Shift™, we deliver a level of purity and sound that rivals and challenges the very best in wired headphones.”

Sounds great – BUT Jaybird X uses exactly the same codec, which Jaybird named Shift a long time ago!

Note that if you want to bike or run safely, you will be better off with headphones that don’t exclude ambient sound – non-immersive headphones such as the excellent Plantronics BackBeat Fit (reviewed here).

Battery Life of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

The marketing for the Jaybird X2 brags that it has an 8-hour super capacity battery life. They describe this as “incredible battery life.” What exactly is incredible about bringing out a product that has EXACTLY the same battery life as the previous product, the BlueBuds X? No improvements here, folks! I don’t find it incredible at all, because I have been using the old Jaybird X headphones with 8 hours of battery life for well over a year. Plus, the much cheaper Plantronics headphones (reviewed here), also have 8 hours of battery life.

In fact, I expect 8 hours of battery life as a minimum now – so I really don’t think Jaybird gets any bragging rights for 8 hours on the Jaybird X2.

Both the Jaybird X and the Jaybird X2 have enough battery life to get you through your game!

In terms of specs, the BlueBuds X has a 83 mAh battery, while the Jaybird X2’s battery has a higher 100 mAh capacity. However, it is still only 8 hours, so I don’t see that the difference in technical specs makes any difference to the user. When it goes up to 16 hours, so I can do an entire flight to Australia without running out of sound, THEN I’ll get excited.

Jaybird claims that the X2 are the smallest earphones in the world. Well, they probably are – but it’s a joint title with the Jaybird X, as both sets weigh in at just 0.49 oz (13.8 g).

The Ear Tips of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

The main difference you will find if you buy a set of Jaybird X2, is that when you unpack the box, there are now 6 sets of eartips, not 3. Also, the original eartips were basic foam eartips, whereas with the Jaybird X2 you get three sets of Comply Premium Sport Foam foam eartips, and three sets of silicon eartips (both types are supplied in small, medium and large).

There is a bigger choice of eartips with the Jaybird X2 – and a whole lot of brand names and technologies have jumped on board

The hype on the Comply eartips is that they are supposed to have “memory foam”. The idea is that you push them into your ears, hold them there for about 15 seconds, and then they magically comply to your ears. Now, I admit that this seems to have worked for some reviewers, but it did not work for me. For me, the old style foam was just as good, if not better.

If you don’t like the Comply foam you can use the alternates, the silicon eartips. These are a bit firmer. They may work for you, and in fact I found them less likely to slip out of my ears than the Comply foam eartips.

Overall though, I was NOT blown away by the new eartips.

Both the Jaybird X and the Jaybird X2 claim to have a secure fit that stays in your ears, no matter what you are doing

Wireless Connectivity of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

The Jaybird X2 headphones are promoted as having Signal Plus for Skip Free Music. That’s great, and they do have skip free music. However, the Jaybird X headphones also have excellent wireless connectivity – I never experienced skipping with them.

That’s great – but the Jaybird X is also compatible with all of the above! No differences!

The Carrying Case of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

The new carrying case is still a clam case, but it looks and feels different. It has a soft, super-modern feel to it, and you have to kind of wriggle the lid open by applying “gentle pressure” around the edges.

Now, I admit it looks pretty good – but it’s not game-changing, it’s just a cosmetic upgrade. Also, I have to admit I find the whole “gentle pressure” thing irritating. For me, gentle pressure is what you use when you teach a puppy how to walk on a leash. When I want to get my eartips out, I don’t want to waste time being gentle with a plush, velvety clam case.

The new case on the Jaybird X2 looks and feels good

The Earfins of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

Earfins are these funny little fan things that help to keep the eartips in place while you are hurdling or abseiling, or whatever your sport happens to be. They do help a bit, and a lot of people like them. I don’t personally like them, and never use them, because they tend to come out of my ears and stick out sideways, making me look ridiculous. Still, lots of people seem to like them.

The difference with the new earfins is that they are matte instead of shiny. Something I would never have noticed, if Jaybird had not told me. Some reviewers claim this makes them less likely to slip. I cannot detect any functional difference at all. To me you either have the right shape ear for these to work, or you don’t. Unfortunately, I don’t.

Also, there are some reviewers who claim to be able to see a difference in the shape of these earfins. To me, they seem to have exactly the same shape.

Here you can see the earfins – which have a matte finish with the Jaybird X2, and a glossy finish with the Jaybird X

New clips with the Jaybird X2

The Jaybird X2 are packaged with tiny little clips that you are supposed to use to keep the headphone wire tidy at the back of your head, especially if you want to wear them over your ears, instead of under. I tried fussing with this for a while, but just found it annoying. Still, if you like to keep your wiring tidy and out of the way, you may find these clips handy.

I know for sure I will lose these things the first time I try to use them!

Controls on the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

These are almost exactly the same too – excellent, but almost exactly the same. The tiny inline remote control enables you to change tracks, play and pause, and switch on and off. The built-in microphone lets you take calls on the go, and works very well on the old set and the new set. I pretty much make all my calls on headphones these days, as the technology has got so good. Just a few years ago people would complain they could not hear me, but now they all work fine. It’s great to be able to make hands-free calls on the go!

As for the difference – the controls are now silent, rather than making tiny beeps. This is definitely an improvement. I can live without the tiny beeps!

Sweat proof Claims on the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

The Jaybird X2 are guaranteed sweat proof – but so were the Jaybird X!

The last upgrade on the Jaybird X introduced a lifetime sweat-proof guarantee. Thanks to a special coating, the Jaybird X headphones were said to be able to survive all the sweat you could throw at them. I have heard that they honored this warranty, although I have never had to use it myself.

Lifetime guarantee sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Especially as some people now live for 90 or more years. But wait – there’s a catch! It’s for the lifetime of the headphones, not YOUR lifetime. And the lifetime of Bluetooth headphones such as the Jaybirds is very short – just as long as the batteries last, because you cannot replace the batteries. And the batteries last only 2 to 3 years.

So really, for truth in advertising, these should be billed as having a “Hamster-Lifetime-Guarantee”!

The Jaybird X2 headphones come with the (hamster) lifetime warranty too. Jaybird claims it is a better sweatproof coating, using something called Liquipel. However, the Jaybird X headphones had the same (hamster) lifetime warranty, so from a user point of view, I cannot see any difference.

Colors of the Jaybird X2 vs Jaybird X

This is the only area where there is an obvious improvement. The Jaybird X was available only in black or white, but the Jaybird X2 headphones are available in a rainbow of gorgeous colors. I have to say I really like that!

The finish is now more matte than glossy, which is a slight improvement.

I like all the new colors on the Jaybird X2

Bottom Line on Jaybird X2 vs the Jaybird X

Unless the minor differences mentioned above are important to you (e.g. you just gotta have matte red headphones), then save your money and get the Jaybird X while you still can. They are a lot cheaper than they’ve ever been, because of all the hype about the X2. So if you’re looking for a secure fit and good sound in wireless BlueTooth listening, the Jaybird X are a much better bang for your buck. Just compare the prices below!

Did you like this post or find it useful? If so, please support our blog:

By simply clicking on one of the Amazon links before buying from Amazon. Buy your wearable tech from Amazon and you can return it for a full refund if you are not happy – that’s one of the things I like about Amazon – they make it super easy to return items, and they pay the postage too! Or else, just subscribe to our blog – join our community to get free weekly updates when there are new posts. Thanks in advance – reader support keeps us going and costs you nothing!

No, I missed that. But I picked up a couple of pairs of the X’s for incredibly cheap prices. I think they are just selling off stock. I don’t even need them right now – just put them away for the future – none of these things last forever, and I like to grab a deal when I see one.

One big difference is that Jaybird is now owned by Logitech, which makes warranty and customer service a hugh pain to deal with. Otherwise, you’re right they’re pretty much the same. I was hoping for better acoustics and battery life.

I just broke my bluebud x earphones which I have used for a few years and was replacing them. Thanks to your review I’m buying the same ones and not the upgrade. I use them a lot when mowing or other loud stuff and use upgraded plugs and like them a lot.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Welcome to our Wearable Tech Blog!

Welcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, and I spend my time testing and reviewing wearable tech (a tough job, but somebody has to do it). This blog features product reviews, news, and advice for people like you who want to use wearable tech - but who want to do their research and be really clear about what they are doing and what they are buying.Hi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe). I share Joe's love of wearable tech, and I love trying them out and reviewing them on this blog.

How Our Affiliate Links Work

You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the affiliate websites.

Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts

THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.